LOTUS blog

I don’t have much to add that hasn’t already been written by people much more eloquent than I am.  Instead I’ll just post this witty exchange:

“Mr. Buckley,” one non-fan wrote in 1967, “you are the mouthpiece of that evil rabble that depends on fraud, perjury, dirty tricks, anything at all that suits their purposes. I would trust a snake before I would trust you or anybody you support.”

Responded Buckley: “What would you do if I supported the snake?”

UPDATE: Be sure to check out Ann Coulter’s column this week.  She recalls some of Buckley’s “shocking” retorts.  She writes, “I prefer to remember the Buckley who scandalized to the bien-pensant. “  Coulter and Buckley are similar in at least two ways.  Both have a dry wit that I love and both always seem to use words I have to look up. 

Tonight’s Democratic Debate (most answers are paraphrased)

Also check out ACU Intern Andrew Breza’s live-blogging here.

9:20 p.m. Question about NAFTA

Clinton: I’d like to talk about health care.  I’m not complaining, but it’s interesting that I’ve been getting the first question.  If you saw Saturday Night Live, perhaps we should ask Barack if he’s comfortable and wants another pillow.  [Watch SNL sketch here.]

Obama: Doesn’t respond to Clinton’s whining, says NAFTA has hurt American jobs and that Clinton has flip-flopped on the issue.

It’s odd to me that Hillary wants to keep talking about health care.  It just reminds people of why they dislike her.  It’s like McCain saying, “Hold up everyone, can we get back to McCain-Feingold or McCain-Kennedy?”

Russert to Clinton: I’ve looked through your plan and you say you will add 5 million U.S. jobs in the first year of your administration.  During your Senate election, you told my hometown of Buffalo [Drink because it’s shocking that he didn’t say “Go Bills”] that you would add 5,000 new jobs to the area.  You later told the Buffalo newspaper that you may have overestimated.  Is your current plan of 5 million also overestimating?

Clinton: Nah.  My husband did it, so can I!

[Warning: I’m eating an ice cream cone, so the “live” blogging ain’t so live.]

9:40 p.m. Russert to Obama: Clinton has said you don’t have adequate foreign policy experience.  In the general election, you would be going up against someone with considerable foreign policy experience.

Obama: McCain has the same policies as Bush and Cheney. Clinton would not be able to debate McCain because her positions are virtually the same. 

9:45 p.m. Russert: Do you reserve the right to go back into Iraq after withdrawal if needed?

Clinton: You ask too many hypothetical questions.

Duh, the whole damn debate is a hypothetical question that hinders on whether or not you’re president!  Spoiler alert: Clinton won’t be president.

Obama: Yes, if attacks are planned like what happen on 9/11, it’s my responsibility to stop it.

Clinton: Oh wait, I want to change my answer!

Brian Williams gives Clinton the hand and MSNBC goes to a hard break and says they’ll give her an opportunity when they come back.  Hee hee, they don’t.

9:52 p.m. Williams asks Obama to look at the monitor.  Video plays of bumble bee Clinton being sarcastic about the skies opening, angels singing for Obama.

Clinton cackles (drink).

Obama said it’s kind of humorous and understands the point Clinton has been trying to make about “speeches vs. solutions.”  Obama says he’s been offering solutions for 20 years.

Williams to Clinton: What point were you trying to make in that comment?

Clinton: I was having fun on the campaign trail, which is hard to do.   Then she rattles off a list of buzz phrases: health care, middle class, oil company profits,  caps on credit card rates, Dick Cheney’s energy bill, student loans, names of cities in Ohio, etc.

In some room somewhere, Frank Luntz is high-fiving himself.

10:00 p.m. Williams plays clip of Obama saying Clinton is trying to capitalize on her husband’s administration and acting as co-president.

Obama: It’s wrong to take credit for good things, but shirk responsibility on the bad things.

10:05 p.m. Russert asks Clinton why she hasn’t released her (and her husband’s)  joint tax return.  Mentions that Clinton loaned her campaign $5 million.  Russert also points out that President Clinton (the first one) has made a lot of money from foreign companies and the American people would like to know who is bankrolling her campaign.

Clinton: The American people that support me are bankrolling this campaign.  Says she’ll release tax return before the general election, maybe earlier.

10:08 p.m. Russert asks Obama if he supports Louis Farrakhan’s endorsement.  Obama says no and that his comments against Jews are reprehensible.  Russert continues to push.  Reminds him that his book title “The Audacity of Hope,” comes from a sermon from a minister that traveled with Farrakhan to Libya to meet with Khadafi. 

Obama: I wouldn’t be sitting here tonight if it wasn’t for the Jewish community who adamently supported civil rights.

Clinton interjects and says she rejecting isn’t as strong as denouncing support.  I renounced support from anti-semetics in NY’s Independence Party.

Obama: Ok, fine.  I reject and denounce.  I can haz presidency now?

Russert has had some good questions tonight.  PJB must have helped.

10:22 p.m. Pop Quiz!  Russert asks Clinton to tell him about Putin’s recently elected successor.

Clinton: He’s handpicked by Putin.  We may be meeting with the President, but Putin will still be making the decisions.

Russert:  Who is he?  What’s his name?

Clinton: Meda-meda-veda (mumble mumble)

10:25 p.m. Russert asks last question, are there any words or vote you would take back?

Clinton: The 2002 resolution on Iraq is a vote I would like to take back.  However, election is about the future. 

Obama: Would take back vote on allowing Congress to intervene on Terry Schiavo.  “As a constitutual law professor, I knew better.”  Good answer.

Obama ends by complimenting Clinton.  Says people are modest and don’t expect much from government.  They are looking for a hand-up, not a hand out. 

10:30 p.m. Williams asks Obama: What is the fundamental question that Clinton needs to answer to the voters? 

Obama: Clinton would be a better president than John McCain and has tethered himself to Bush on foreign policy.  I don’t think Clinton needs to answer a question on whether she can be the standard bearer.  I’m better though because I can unite people in a unique way.

Same question to Clinton.

Clinton: It’s been an honor to campaign, but I still intend to win.  I am the first woman running and it will be an enormous sea-change. The question I would pose is “Who can actually change the country?”

It’s over.   Chelsea is first to greet Clinton.  Obama and Clinton signs autographs. 

Olbermann and Matthews: Was a debate of field goals rather than touchdowns.

Courtesy of my good friend IOTUS, below are the Drinking Game Rules for tonight’s MSNBC debate with Senators Clinton and Obama.  (I’d give anything to see MSNBC’s Pat Buchanan ask the questions.)

Drink one every time Clinton laughs.

Drink two if Clinton says name of a corporation, like Xerox.

Drink two and a half sips for any mention of “green” or emerging green technologies.

Drink three if Clinton makes eye contact directly with Obama. 

Drink three is one of them touch one another during the debate.  Finish your drink if it’s to make a negative point rather than a “I’m so happy to be here with you” point.

Drink four if Clinton threatens to cry.

Drink five if Obama mentions or references William Jefferson Clinton.

If Clinton can get Obama to accuse her of “dirty tricks” (i.e. planting the recent photo in traditional African garb) finish the bottle.

Final drink — If Bush is mentioned more than McCain, grab another bottle and finish it.

In 1943 many companies were breaking new ground by hiring women.   Here are a few gems from the July 1943 issue of Transportation magazine:

Eleven Tips on Getting More Efficiency Out of Women Employees: There’s no longer any question whether transit companies should hire women for jobs formerly held by men. The draft and manpower shortage has settled that point. The important things now are to select the most efficient women available and how to use them to the best advantage.

…

When you have to use older women, try to get ones who have worked outside the home at some time in their lives. Older women who have never contacted the public have a hard time adapting themselves and are inclined to be cantankerous and fussy. It’s always well to impress upon older women the importance of friendliness and courtesy.

…

General experience indicates that “husky” girls - those who are just a little on the heavy side - are more even tempered and efficient than their underweight sisters.

…

Give every girl an adequate number of rest periods during the day. You have to make some allowances for feminine psychology. A girl has more confidence and is more efficient if she can keep her hair tidied, apply fresh lipstick and wash her hands several times a day.

H/T Fark.com

Via TMZ:

TMZ has learned that Duane “Dog” Chapman will be back in business and back on the air on A&E. Woof!

A network official confirms to TMZ that the show is going back into production, but they’ve not yet set a premiere date. As of now, they’re gearing up — big time — in Hawaii and production will begin ASAP. Makeup artists and camera crews have been hired, and houses and cars have been rented, all for the return of the show.

A&E had suspended production on “Dog the Bounty Hunter” indefinitely after a recording surfaced featuring Chapman making racial slurs. Chapman immediately began a tour of forgiveness, working with CORE and other groups to promote racial equality. We’re told network execs were “very pleased” with Dog’s attempt to make amends and his reaching out to members of the African American community.

A&E isn’t just making this decision out of the goodness of their hearts either. The show was insanely popular for the network, here and internationally — airing in over 20 countries.

Gratuitous picture of LOTUS and Dog at the CORE Dinner:

Ever wonder what happens to all the pre-printed “Super Bowl Champion” t-shirts with the loser team?  Time magazine reports:

The fact that the Patriots lost the Super Bowl may be why the celebration was being held in this small Nicaraguan village — because Boston’s loss was definitely Diriamba’s gain, in the form of the “Perfect Season, 19-0″ Patriots T-shirts and hats that Brady, Belichick and Brewski were supposed to have worn on the field after the game. Due to NFL regulations that prohibit the sale of the losing team’s “championship” apparel, the T-shirts and hats were donated to needy Nicaraguans by World Vision, in conjunction with the NFL and Reebok.

Although most of the shirts had been made for six-foot-four, 310-pound tackles, rather than three-foot-eight, 45-pound elementary schoolers, no one complained about the tailoring. That’s because unlike most of clothing worn in this part of the world, the Patriots gear was brand-new — a wonderful novelty, even if everyone in the village now has the same shirt.

Central America has, for years, been a dumping ground for unwanted used clothing from the United States, thanks to church giveaways, hurricane relief drives and other charitable and business endeavors. (See the video) The legacy of that goodwill has turned Nicaragua’s streets into a living, if slightly tattered, scrapbook of pop culture memories: everything from “Avoid the Noid” and “Party Animal, Spuds Mackenzie,” to “I’m Too Sexy for My Shirt.”

Those wearing the tees are either unaware of or unconcerned by the meaning of the English messages they bear. It’s not uncommon to see a man wearing a T-shirt boasting “World’s Best Grandma,” or a young girl wearing a shirt lamenting “Stripping ruined my life.” I’ve seen an old woman in “I Love AC/DC,” an indigenous grandmother with a shirt bragging, “My boyfriend is hotter than yours,” and another disclosing that “My boyfriend is out of town.”

Some of the clothing dumped on Latin America is in such poor taste that it’s hard to imagine how it ever got made in the first place. Like the girl’s underwear in a storefront window inscribed with the creepy message, “I love my uncle.”

Actually, these kinds of language slip-ups happen quite often.  My sister works for a toy company and they are always getting samples from China with odd word choices.  For Valentine’s Day she sent me a bag of reject candy hearts.   Here’s a sampling of some of the cleaner ones.

You Suck

Do Me

Easy Lay

Doggy Style

Lick It

Ahh, the language of love.  If you want to hear the dirty ones, it will cost you $4.95 a minute.

What has two thumbs and no chance?

 This guy.

(Thank you, thank you… )